How should Christians think about war, conflict, justice, and peace in a world filled with competing narratives and seemingly endless complexity? In this episode, Dru Johnson talks with peacebuilding practitioner and political scientist Austin Knuppe about how Scripture, intellectual humility, lament, and Christian realism can shape the way Christians respond to global conflict. Knuppe explains why biblical lament can provide an important framework for responding to injustice without demanding simplistic answers to suffering. He also discusses motivated reasoning, confirmation bias, and the danger of reducing complicated conflicts to narratives of obvious heroes and villains. Drawing from his experience in Rwanda, northern Iraq, and the broader field of peacebuilding, Knuppe explores the difficult work of rebuilding social cohesion after violence, including restoring trust, addressing trauma, and pursuing reconciliation. The conversation also examines Israel and Palestine, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine, U.S. foreign policy, restorative justice, international aid, and the limits of applying one peacebuilding model to every conflict. Knuppe argues for intellectual hospitality, careful attention to local voices, and a willingness to say “I don’t know” while still pursuing wise and practical action. For Christians seeking a thoughtful biblical and political perspective on war, peace, justice, reconciliation, and international conflict, this conversation offers a challenging alternative to simplistic answers. Learn more about Dr. Knuppe at his website: https://www.austinknuppe.com/ We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Austin Nuppy and the episode's focus 02:16 The practice of lament and its significance in faith and conflict 03:22 The challenge of seeking certainty in understanding conflicts 04:08 Narratives, motivated reasoning, and their impact on conflict perception 06:25 Approaching conflict with humility and good faith engagement 10:07 Memory, history, and bearing witness in conflict zones 15:03 The importance of wisdom and discernment in justice and peace 21:15 Strategies for peacebuilding and social cohesion in Iraq 24:17 The role of local trust and grassroots initiatives in reconciliation 27:09 Challenges of justice, accountability, and structural constraints 34:30 The complexity of ongoing conflicts and the limits of models 41:34 US foreign policy levers and the Christian approach to peace 52:53 Balancing ground-up and top-down peace strategies 54:54 The limits of idealism and the importance of realism in conflict 55:58 The human cost of aid and the peace industry See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
